Climb in a Cobra for a burnout ride on Main

Hurricane Motorsports 427 Roadster

By Kristy Zurbrick | Madison Messenger

Curvy, colorful cars with loud, powerful engines will roar into London on June 22 for the annual London Cobra Show.

Each year, the Ohio Cobra Club hosts the show in conjunction with the London Strawberry Festival. At 9 a.m. that day, the drivers of nearly 170 Cobra cars will parade into London. They start at the Speedway gas station at U.S. Route 42 and I-70, turn west on U.S. Route 40, then turn south onto State Route 56, wheeling into downtown London two abreast.

They will park at North Main and High streets, where from about 9:15 a.m. to 3 p.m., the public can get a close look at the vehicles, talk to the owners and browse through vendor booths. Visitors will see Cobras of all makes and color combinations. For people who want an even closer look, burnout rides are available from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. For $10, a person can climb into the passenger seat of a Cobra car and enjoy a one eighth-mile ride down Main Street.

“It’s a thrilling ride,” said Pam and Dave Beck, Ohio Cobra Club members. “You go 0 to 60 in about four seconds. It’s loud, rumbling…the tires are screeching.”

For those who want a chance at owning a Cobra, the club is raffling off a Hurricane Motorsports Cobra kit car. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the show or at www.londoncobrashow.com. Online ticket sales close at midnight on June 20. The drawing will take place the evening of June 22.

The club also is selling London Cobra Show t-shirts and, for the burnout riders, “I Smoked ’em on Main Street” t-shirts.

Proceeds from the burnout rides, t-shirt sales and car raffle benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Over the years, the Ohio Cobra Club has raised over $800,000 for the cause.